Method and means for packaging sheet material



Dec. 25,1951 R. c. ZIMMERMAN METHOD AND MEANS FOR PACKAGING SHEET MATERIAL 2 SX-IEETS-SHEET 1 Filed March 18, 1949 F. ELrImrL.

INVENTOR. Rn LP 6. ZIMMEAMAII Dec. 25, 1951 R. c. ZIMMERMAN 2,580,060

METHOD AND MEANS FOR PACKAGING'SHEET MATERIAL Filed March 18, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 wvw I m j INVENTOR. r i Run! 6. ZINMERMRN Auavg Patented Dec. 25, 1951 METHOD AND MEANS FOR PACKAGING SHEET MATERIAL -'Ralph C. Zimmerman, Nor-wood, Ohio, assignor to Zimmerman Packing Company, 'Norwood, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 18, 1949, Serial No. 82,197

7 Claims.

This-invention relates to improvements in a method and means for p-a'ckagingtsheetmaterial and particularly to-p-ackaging relatively small sheets.

The packaging of sheetmaterial in'rolls by rolling the material either on itself or on a core is relatively well known but to package this sheet material so as to advise the observer of the contents of the package is new. In. other words, by the present invention sheet material is so'packed and displayed as to at once attract possible purchasers and advise of the contents of the package.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to"provide' a'package ofa plu- "rality of sheetsof material for simultaneously,

vision of a method of: making and a package of sheet gasket material whereby purchasers'may readily see the number'of 'sheets'of gasket material being purchased'yet' the package is so complete that it needsno further wrapping-except, pcssibl a protective covering.

A further object'ofuthis inventionis the provision of a package for shipment and display of a plurality of sheets of gasket material containing sheets cf, at least, two "different characteristics or properties and in whichfat least; a'portion of .each sheet ofa different character or"property is exposed to the view of the purchaser for his inspection without-requiring the opening of the package.

.It is also anobject of this invention to provide a package for accomplishing theforegoing objects that is economical to'accomplish'thereby in; no wise increasing. the cost'of themerchandise.

Other objects and: advantages of the present invention should be: readily apparent hyreference to the following.specification considered; in conjunction-with the accompanying; drawings form ing a part thereof and itis'to. be understoodthat any;modificationsxmay be made intheeexact structural details thereshown-and described.

. within the scopeof .theappended claims, without .departing from .or. exceedingthe spirit-of the invention.

.;.In .the drawings:

Fig 1 isv a :perspective view .oiea; package .2 :bodying" the principles of' the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the :package as seen from'line' 2-'2.'on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the elements of the package infpo'sitiorr for assembly.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the package prior to the placing therearound of the final wrapping layer.

.Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the elements of the package as seenirom the opposite side of Fi 3.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal*sectioncl'view through the package roll as seen from line- 6-45 on Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 isaplan-view of theseveral elements making the package of the present invention and are illustratedpn a scale somewhat smaller than the scale of the otherfigures.

Throughout the several views of the drawings similar reference characters are "employed to denote the sameor similar parts.

-As was noted above, thisinvention is being illustrated and will be described in connection with the packaging of sheetmaterial .used'as gaskets, washers, insulators,-and the like, together with other types ofpacking suchas rope orv cord. As iswellknownggaskets,washers, and the like, are usedin various places and in various environments such-as in connection with: steam, .-oil, water, and the like. These instances of use require, toobtain the-best results, different materials, for example asbestos has properties whereby it is superior when used-for steam, acid, am-

-monia,-and in places where heat .is one :of the factors .to be considered;=cork will find its princi- .or. more sheets of. pressed asbestos gasket material M1,. one ormore. sheetsof cork ll, and one .ormoresheets of. rubber 12. ..Each. of the sheets .Joflmaterial is. of. substantially. the samesize and duetothe material from whichthey are .made :have a distinct. color fromaeach. other, the=as- .hestos being alightgray, the cork a brownand the. rubbera distinct. red. Itis .further contemplated to. apply to. the said sheets suitable indicia to indicate its purpose which, as shown .in the -.drawings, 2 includes the stamping, printing: onotherwise: marking .the asbestos sheet l0 --with .the "word steam, indicated bythe ref erence character-l3, similarly marking, stamping for otherwise indicatmg-onu-the cork sheet I l the word oil, as indicated by the reference character I4, and also marking, stamping or otherwise indicating on the rubber sheet l2 the word water, indicated by the reference character 15. It is to be understood that this specific marking is not absolutely essential as each of these gasket material sheets is not limited to uses in these specifically indicated fields but that it is preferable that these materials be so used as, from past experience, the greatest benefit will thereby be obtained in their use in these specific fields.

Each sheet of material is further provided with illustrations and copy, indicated by the reference character l6, suggesting the various places in the home, around the farm or garage, while pursuing a hobby, or in industry where the use of gasket material either as a gasket, a washer, an insulator, or the like, may be needed.

In practice the several sheets in, H and I2 are so positioned with respect to one another that a portion of each sheet is visible below or beyond an edge of the sheet superimposed thereon. As seen in Fig. 5, prior to the completion of the package, the entire surface of sheet is exposed while the portion between the end I! of sheet In and the corresponding end l8 of sheet II is all that is exposed of said sheet ll, while similarly only a small portion of sheet !2, that is between the end l8 of sheet II and the end IQ of sheet I2. is likewise exposed. It will be noted that the exposed portion 2L of sheet H and the exposed portion 2! of sheet I2 are the portions that carry the oil and water notations I 4 and I5 and which in the final package are visible to the purchaser and observer.

The sheets I11, I I and I2 after being positioned as just described are adapted to be rolled, starting the roll from the ends of the sheets opposite to l1, l8 and 19 so that the said roll leaves the said portions 20 and 2| of sheetsll and I2 exposed in the final roll as illustrated in Fig. 4. As noted above this roll may be made with the sheets themselves rolled on themselves but it has been found preferable to use a core on which the sheets are to be rolled and which core conveniently and preferably takes the form of a tube 22 of cardboard or other paper material.

The tube is of such a size that the outer layer of.

the roll exposes the roll from the edge or end 19 of sheet l2 to substantially the hypothetical line 23 on sheet It) in Fig. 5.

As was noted above, in order to take care of leaks on or around cylindrical members such as faucet and valve stems, pipe joints, and the like, use is made of cord packing. The package of the present invention utilizes the cardboard tube or core 22 as a carrier for said cord packing which are attached to one another by the simple expedient of slashing or. slitting one end of the tube, as at 24, and forcing the cord material 25 into the slit resulting from said out or slash. The cord packing is then wrapped around the tube as illustrated at 26 in Figs. 3 and 6 until the desired quantity is obtained whereupon the end 21 of the cord packing 25 is fastened to the last turn or two of the roll 26 and anchored in position by forcing same into a slit resulting from a slash or cut 28 atthe end of the tube opposite to that that contains the slit 24. One or the other of the ends of the cord packing 25 is allowed to project a considerable distance from one of the slits 24 or 28, for example, and as shown in the drawings, the portion of the 'cord that is caught in the slit 24 is allowed to pro- J'ect as an end 29, see Fig. 3. After the sheet material is rolled either on itself or on the core 22 said end 29 of the packing is disposed on the outer surface of the roll and is conveniently located just below the edge IQ of the lowermost sheet l2 as illustrated in Fig. 4 which disposes the said cord end '29 on the upper surface of the topmost sheet l0 and at a point just below the imaginary line 23 on Fig. 5 which is, as noted above, just above the printing, label, or other advertising and instruction material on said sheet ID as above described. In view of the specific relation of the parts to one another, the said uppermost gasket material sheet ID carries suitable instructions indicating the purpose of the cord packing which is for leaks as indicated by the reference numeral 30.

The cord packing 25 may be of any well known or desired kind shown in the drawings consisting of a thin wire core 3! covered throughout its length by packing material, such as asbestos, cotton, or the like.

The package is preferably supplied with an instruction sheet which is of an area substantially equal to the area of sheets Iii, II and I2 and in the package is disposed on the under side of the lowermost packing sheet [2 as illustrated in Fig. 5 and this instruction sheet becomes the wrapping sheet for the cord packing and core tube 22 as shownv in Fig. 3, said instruction sheet being indicated in the drawings by the reference numeral 32.

After the gasket material, packing material and instruction sheet have been rolled into the roll illustrated in Fig. 4 they are secured beneath a transparent wrapper or wrapping which may be of the well known transparent Cellophane, or of transparent paper such as glassine and the like. The said transparent wrapping 33 is of an area somewhat in excess of the area of the gasket material sheets and particularly of a length greater than that of the width of the sheets or the length of the core 22 as illustrated in Fig. 7 where said excessive lengths are identified by reference characters 34 and 35. The said portions 34 and 35 of the wrapper are finally twisted on themselves and forced into the ends of the core tube 22, as illustrated at 3:5 in Fig. 2 and 3? in Fig. 1. The package is now ready for the ultimate consumer.

The method of making the package of the present invention is believed obvious from the description and consists in placing the sheets in superimposed relation on one another with the portions corresponding to the exposed portions 20 and 2| of sheets H and I2 projecting beyond one another and beyond the sheet I!) and with the instruction sheet 32 on the sheet I 2. The core or tube 22, with the packing cord 25 secured and rolled thereon, is then positioned on the instruction sheet 32 in such a way that the superimposed sheets III, II and I2 may be rolled toward the end 19 of sheet l2, in other words, toward the right in Fig. 3 and downwardly of Fig. 7. This results in a roll as illustrated in Fig. 4, after the end 29 of the cord acking has been bent or positioned as illustrated in Fig. 4, and above described, to lie just below'the said edge 19 of the sheet [2.

The package is then completed, as set forth above, by enclosing the roll in a transparent covering sheet or Cellophane or glassine with the said transparent wrapping secured by twisting the free ends '34 and 35 thereof on themselves and forcing said twisted ends into the ends of the roll or its core.

From the foregoing it will now be appreciated that there has been provided a novel package for displaying and shipping gasket material in sheet form as well as packing material for repairing leaks in faucets, valves and the like. By this arrangement there is provided a kit for making emergency gaskets of all kinds and decriptions whether the need be the ordinary one of controlling or handling water, the more serious breakdowns in which it is necessary to control gas or oil, or the serious conditions in which acids, ammonia and the like are involved, and in each instance having the assurance that the most appropriate material for the gasket has been employed.

It will further be appreciated that the package displays the material to its greatest advantage and requires a minimum of display space in the retain establishment handling the products packed.

It should, however, be noted that the principles of packaging different kinds or qualities of sheet material is not limited to gasket material but that the invention may be employed in fields that are absolutely foreign to the specific field hereinabove described and as set out in the objects initially set forth.

What is claimed is:

1. A package of the class described comprising a plurality of sheets of rollable asket material superimposed on one another with said gasket sheets, respectively, of at least two different characteristics and rolled into a tube with a portion of each sheet of the roll visible beyond a similar edge of the sheet disposed thereabove so that the characteristic of each gasket sheet is visible, said visible portions of the several sheets together forming the exterior surface of the roll, and a transparent wrapper enclosing the exterior of said roll and secured in an enclosing position.

2. A package of the class described comprising a plurality of sheets of rollable gasket material superimposed on one another with said gasket sheets, respectively, of at least two different characteristics and rolled into a tube with a portion of each sheet of the roll visible beyond a similar edge of the sheet disposed thereabove so that the characteristic of each gasket sheet is visible, said visible portions of the several sheets together forming the exterior surface of the roll, and a transparent wrapper enclosing the exterior of said roll and secured in an enclosing position by twisting the ends of the wrapper, respectively, on themselves and disposed centrally of the roll.

3. A package of the class described comprising a hollow tube-like core, a plurality of sheets of rollable gasket material superimposed on one another with said gasket sheets, respectively, of at least two different characteristics and rolled around said tube core with a portion of each sheet visible beyond a similar edge of the sheet disposed thereabove so that the characteristic of each gasket sheet is visible, said visible portions of the several sheets together forming the exterior surface of the roll, and a transparent wrapper enclosing the exterior of the roll and secured in enclosing position.

4. A package of the class described compris- 6 ing a hollow tube-like core, a plurality of sheets of rollable gasket material superimposed on one another with said gasket sheets, respectively, of at least two different characteristics. and rolled around said tube core with a portion of each sheet visible beyond a similar edge of the sheet disposed thereabove so that the characteristic of each gasket sheet is visible, said visible portions of the several sheets together forming the exterior surface of the roll, and a transparent wrapper enclosing the exterior of the roll and secured in enclosing position by twisting the ends of the wrapper, respectively, on themselves and disposed centrally of the tube core.

5. A package of the class described comprising a hollow tube-like core, a length of cord packing carried by the tube core on the exterior thereof, a plurality of sheets of gasket material superimposed on one another and rolled around said tube core with a portion of each sheet of asket material visible beyond a similar edge of the gasket sheet disposed thereabove, said visible portions of the several sheets together forming the exterior surface of the roll, and a transparent wrapper enclosing the exterior of said roll and secured in enclosing position.

6. A package of the class described comprising a hollow tube-like core, a length of cord packing carried by the tube core on the exterior thereof, a plurality of sheets of gasket material superimposed on one another and rolled around said tube core with a portion of each sheet of gasket material visible beyond a similar edge of the gasket sheet disposed thereabove, said visible portions of the several sheets together forming the exterior surface of the roll, and a transparent wrapper enclosing the exterior of said roll and secured in enclosing position by twisting the ends of the wrapper, respectively, on them selves and disposed centrally of the tube core.

'7. A package of the class described comprising a hollow tube-like core, a length of cord packing carried by the tube core on the exterior thereof, a plurality of sheets of gasket material superimposed on one another and rolled around said tube core with a portion of each sheet of gasket material visible beyond a similar edge of the sheet disposed thereabove, said visible portions of the several sheets together forming the exterior surface of the roll, said cord packing being secured in position by anchoring the ends of the cord packing respectively to the ends of the tube core with one of the said ends beyond its anchor disposed on the exterior surface of the roll, and a transparent wrapper enclosing the exterior of said roll and secured in an enclosing position by twisting the ends of the wrapper, respectively, on themselves and disposed centrally of the tube core.

RALPH C. ZIMMERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 699,322 Hobbs May 6, 1902 1,725,449 Franke Aug. 20, 1929 2,083,238 O'Brien June 8, 1937 2,469,366 Burbank May 10, 1959 

